Today’s Youth Turned into Commodities in the Hands of Corporate Companies..!!

It’s no secret that companies like Zomato, Swiggy, Ola, Uber etc. along with many lesser known ones have evolved into logistics providers, transporting not just goods but people. With today’s highly mechanized system and the lack of employment even for the well educated, many young people are working for these companies. This culture has now spread not just to cities, but even to modest villages. For those without other job options, these companies have become the only refuge for employment. At bus stands, as soon as passengers disembark, countless bikes even worse than autos in number can be seen with young men offering rides on the streets. Let us be clear, we’re not saying that one job is superior to another or that doing a particular job makes one more or less worthy. However, those working for these companies have to spend all day on the road with their vehicles. In case of an accident, do these companies offer any insurance? Are health and family security being provided? That’s still uncertain.

Moreover, it’s not just the drivers who are at risk. The pillion riders on these two wheelers also deserve insurance coverage in the event of an accident. Additionally, it’s the responsibility of the companies to provide helmets not just to the drivers but also to the passengers riding behind them, Yet that’s rarely seen. Typically, only the bike rider wears a helmet, while the person sitting behind goes unprotected. If an unfortunate accident occurs, will these companies offer compensation to both individuals or will they simply wash their hands of the responsibility?

There is a clear obligation on the part of these companies to provide insurance and health coverage to their workers. When we speak to these riders, they often mention earning around 1,000 a day. But questions remain, how many kilometers are they riding each day and what’s their health condition? These concerns remain unanswered, even in their own words. If one individual earns 1,000 a day, how much profit are these companies making collectively from hundreds of thousands of such riders? With potentially even the vehicles being bought by the companies themselves, it’s clear that these companies are raking in crores in revenue. Meanwhile, the riders lives are slowly eroding on the road. As long as health permits, things may go well, but what happens afterward remains is a critical question.